Monday SEC-ACC Tackle Football Update

Former Vols athlete Nu'Keese Richardson entered a guilty plea in Knox County Criminal Court on Monday.

The plea came before a grand jury could consider the charge.

As a result, Richardson avoids jail time and gets judicial diversion.

Whatever that means...

Florida defensive end Carlos Dunlap and center Maurkice Pouncey are leaving school early and entering the NFL draft joining cornerback Joe Haden and tight end Aaron Hernandez who would like to get paid to play from now on.

Guard Mike Pouncey, however, says he is returning for his senior season.

Over at Georgia Tech, three juniors are out the door. Jonathan Dwyer, Morgan Burnett, and Derrick Morgan are all gone leaving a big restructuring job for head coach Paul Johnson. They join WR Demarious "Be-Be" Thomas in the pay world.

The AJC's Mark Bradley analyzes here...

Alabama All-American linebacker Rolando McClain has declared as well.
McClain said he would skip his senior season to turn pro.

He's a projected first-rounder after leading the team with 105 tackles and 14.5 stops for loss, two interceptions, and four sacks to go along with that national title thing.

Al.com's Gentry Estes discusses here...

Carlos Dunlap picked a bad week to get a DUI

University of Florida Star Defensive End Carlos Dunlap is in deep trouble. It seems as though Mr. Dunlap was arrested very early this morning after being found slumped over the wheel of his car. He apparently had been weaving in and out of traffic shortly before being found and after being found, declined to take a breath test after he failed several field sobriety tests.

More from GatorSports.com RIGHT HERE

((Carlos Dunlap looking less drunk//Courtesy: GatorSports.com/Alachua County Sheriff Dept.))

Needless to say, the timing of this incident is probably not-so good with the #1 ranked Gators preparing to play #2 Alabama in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta on Saturday.

The University has yet to comment on the incident though they expect to address it later today after practice in Gainesville. It will be "Very" interesting to see what they have to say and how they will handle the discipline for it. Being without your star defensive end and facing a potential "Game of the Century" poses an interesting quandry for the Gators and Coach Urban Meyer.

We will obviously have more on this story sometime later today.

Here are some of Mr. Dunlap's brighter moments from the Florida/FSU game last week. Thanks You Tube: